Hospitallers

Hospitallers. Originally established at the end of the 11th cent. to care for Jerusalem pilgrims, following the success of the First Crusade the Hospitallers' role expanded, with papal support, to include care of the sick and armed protection of pilgrims. They followed the Augustinian rule, and were divided into three groups, the knights, the infirmarians, and the chaplains. During the 12th cent. the order spread rapidly both in the crusading states and in western Europe. The first English priory was founded c.1144 at Clerkenwell and other smaller preceptories or commanderies followed, administering the order's estates, training its knights, and dispensing hospitality. Following the suppression of the Templars (1312) most of their possessions passed to the Hospitallers, whose headquarters had been transferred to Rhodes in 1309 following the fall of Acre (1291). After the Turkish capture of Rhodes (1522) the order moved to Malta until the island's capture by Napoleon. Its English properties were confiscated in 1540.

Brian Golding

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